Warranty: Automakers offer a warranty to help increase shopper and owner confidence. Not all warranties are equal, and more automakers than ever are using their warranty coverage period as a competitive bargaining tool. Be sure to determine what’s covered by the warranty of the vehicle you’re considering, as well as what’s not covered. Warranties are usually sub-divided into various categories, so get familiar with the terms and coverage periods of each one.
Look for built-in perks, too. For instance, Cadillac and Lexus offer trip planning services and special event discounts on the purchase of a new model. Most new cars also include roadside assistance. Finally, note that some automakers, like Mitsubishi, offer a shorter warranty period on their sports car models.
Space Constraints: Are you single? Part of a couple? Planning some sports-car travels with the kids or grandkids? Be sure to visit your dealer and see if the model you’re considering has enough room for your lifestyle. Consider hobbies and activities you participate in. Are you a pet owner? An avid gardener? A long-distance traveller? You’ll want to be sure there’s adequate room and easy access to rear-seating quarters if so.
Remember; if you’re set on a smaller sports car, but worried about space, your dealership likely sells a variety of add-on accessories that make carrying gear easy when needed. Racks and carriers for skis, bikes, and kayaks, for instance, can be installed in minutes when needed and removed when they aren’t. In this way, shoppers can benefit from extra space while enjoying the perks of a small sports car.
Of course, not all sports cars are small, two-door units. Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, and others (to name a few)sell models that amount to “four-door coupes,” packing the styling energy and dynamism of a two-door car with an extra set of doors for added utility. Honda and Nissan also sell two-door variants of their popular family sedans: the Accord and Altima, respectively. Adult friendly rear-seats and generous trunk space are some of the benefits.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD): Though AWD makes bad-weather driving more confident and worry-free, it can also add agility and stability to any drive. Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mercedes, and others all offer AWD-equipped sports car models for your consideration. Today’s AWD systems are lighter, more compact and more fuel-efficient than ever, and most require only minimal extra maintenance.
Drop the Top: Considering a convertible? Not only will you get that magical wind-in-your-hair experience, you’ll also benefit from higher levels of durability and year-round confidence than ever before. Today’s convertibles from Chrysler, Mazda, Audi, Ford, and others are built to higher standards than before, and virtually all are engineered for year-round use.
Note, however, that as a convertible ages it may require occasional adjustments and maintenance. Special care is required in cleaning a cloth-top convertible of snow and ice in the winter, too. Also, remember that some convertible tops chew up trunk space when they’re folded down, so assess the vehicle’s cargo space with the roof both up and down.
Read the Reviews: Don’t let lust cloud your judgment when selecting a new sports car. Be sure to read a selection of reviews by both professional reviewers and actual owners in order to gain additional perspective on the model(s) you’re considering.
New or Used: Your dealer will likely offer a selection of new and used sports car models. If you decide to save money and purchase a used sports model be sure to subject it to a full mechanical inspection ahead of your purchase with the goal of revealing any possible problems. The dealer can help determine if there’s any outstanding recall work, and where the vehicle sits within its factory-prescribed maintenance schedule.
Consider where the model is in its lifespan, too. If your potential sports-car candidate hasn’t been fully updated in the past few years, you stand to save big bucks by opting for a few-year-old model with a good portion of a factory warranty remaining. Some examples include the Mazda MX-5, Chevrolet Camaro, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
Accessories: For many sports car shoppers, the factory offering is only the beginning. Accessorizing and customizing one’s ride is becoming more and more popular, and more automakers have responded by offering a range of factory-approved upgrades. Performance parts, wheel and tire packages, cosmetic upgrades, interior dress-up parts, and many other products may be available for your sports car ride.
Best of all, factory-approved parts are designed and engineered to meet the quality standards of the rest of the vehicle -- and they’ll fit and function properly the first time. Hyundai, Dodge, Honda, and others offer comprehensive accessory products for their sports car models.
Look for built-in perks, too. For instance, Cadillac and Lexus offer trip planning services and special event discounts on the purchase of a new model. Most new cars also include roadside assistance. Finally, note that some automakers, like Mitsubishi, offer a shorter warranty period on their sports car models.
Space Constraints: Are you single? Part of a couple? Planning some sports-car travels with the kids or grandkids? Be sure to visit your dealer and see if the model you’re considering has enough room for your lifestyle. Consider hobbies and activities you participate in. Are you a pet owner? An avid gardener? A long-distance traveller? You’ll want to be sure there’s adequate room and easy access to rear-seating quarters if so.
Remember; if you’re set on a smaller sports car, but worried about space, your dealership likely sells a variety of add-on accessories that make carrying gear easy when needed. Racks and carriers for skis, bikes, and kayaks, for instance, can be installed in minutes when needed and removed when they aren’t. In this way, shoppers can benefit from extra space while enjoying the perks of a small sports car.
Of course, not all sports cars are small, two-door units. Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, and others (to name a few)sell models that amount to “four-door coupes,” packing the styling energy and dynamism of a two-door car with an extra set of doors for added utility. Honda and Nissan also sell two-door variants of their popular family sedans: the Accord and Altima, respectively. Adult friendly rear-seats and generous trunk space are some of the benefits.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD): Though AWD makes bad-weather driving more confident and worry-free, it can also add agility and stability to any drive. Subaru, Mitsubishi, Mercedes, and others all offer AWD-equipped sports car models for your consideration. Today’s AWD systems are lighter, more compact and more fuel-efficient than ever, and most require only minimal extra maintenance.
Drop the Top: Considering a convertible? Not only will you get that magical wind-in-your-hair experience, you’ll also benefit from higher levels of durability and year-round confidence than ever before. Today’s convertibles from Chrysler, Mazda, Audi, Ford, and others are built to higher standards than before, and virtually all are engineered for year-round use.
Note, however, that as a convertible ages it may require occasional adjustments and maintenance. Special care is required in cleaning a cloth-top convertible of snow and ice in the winter, too. Also, remember that some convertible tops chew up trunk space when they’re folded down, so assess the vehicle’s cargo space with the roof both up and down.
Read the Reviews: Don’t let lust cloud your judgment when selecting a new sports car. Be sure to read a selection of reviews by both professional reviewers and actual owners in order to gain additional perspective on the model(s) you’re considering.
New or Used: Your dealer will likely offer a selection of new and used sports car models. If you decide to save money and purchase a used sports model be sure to subject it to a full mechanical inspection ahead of your purchase with the goal of revealing any possible problems. The dealer can help determine if there’s any outstanding recall work, and where the vehicle sits within its factory-prescribed maintenance schedule.
Consider where the model is in its lifespan, too. If your potential sports-car candidate hasn’t been fully updated in the past few years, you stand to save big bucks by opting for a few-year-old model with a good portion of a factory warranty remaining. Some examples include the Mazda MX-5, Chevrolet Camaro, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
Accessories: For many sports car shoppers, the factory offering is only the beginning. Accessorizing and customizing one’s ride is becoming more and more popular, and more automakers have responded by offering a range of factory-approved upgrades. Performance parts, wheel and tire packages, cosmetic upgrades, interior dress-up parts, and many other products may be available for your sports car ride.
Best of all, factory-approved parts are designed and engineered to meet the quality standards of the rest of the vehicle -- and they’ll fit and function properly the first time. Hyundai, Dodge, Honda, and others offer comprehensive accessory products for their sports car models.